Joystick

Abstract

Joystick for maneuvering of a utility vehicle, wherein said joystick (1) at least comprises: a lever arm, a base, a grip body, and a rocker, wherein said lever arm is arranged such that it can tilt relative said base, said grip body (4) is fixedly arranged relative said lever arm, wherein said grip body is provided with a grip portion, which at least facilitates gripping of said grip body with a thumb and an opposite finger, and said rocker is provided in the area of said grip portion and can pivot relative said grip body wherein a control ring is provided below said grip portion and arranged such that it can pivot relative an axis essentially parallel with the central axis of said lever arm and relative said grip body, wherein said grip body is provided upon a carrier, wherein said carrier is fixedly attached to said lever arm and comprises a base part, a holder and sensing means, where said holder extends from said base part in a direction essentially parallel to the central axis of said lever arm, said grip body essentially extends from said base part such that it encloses said holder, and where said sensing means are provided within said holder, and is adapted to sense movement of at least said control ring and said rocker.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. Joystick for maneuvering of a utility vehicle, wherein said joystick comprises:
 a lever arm, 
 a base, 
 a grip body, and 
 a rocker, 
 wherein said lever arm is arranged such that it can tilt relative said base and said grip body is fixedly arranged relative said lever arm, 
 wherein said grip body is provided with a grip portion, which at least facilitates gripping of said grip body with a thumb and an opposite finger, and said rocker is provided in the area of said grip portion and can pivot relative said grip body, 
 wherein a control ring is provided below said grip portion and arranged such that the control ring can pivot relative an axis parallel with the central axis of said lever arm and such that the control ring can rotate relative said grip body, 
 wherein said grip body is provided upon a carrier, 
 wherein said carrier is fixedly attached to said lever arm and comprises a base part, a holder and sensing means, where said holder extends from said base part in a direction parallel to the central axis of said lever arm, said grip body extends from said base part such that it encloses said holder and said grip body is attached to the upper part of the holder, and 
 wherein said sensing means is provided within said holder, and is adapted to sense movement of at least said control ring and said rocker. 
 
     
     
       2. Joystick according to  claim 1 , wherein said rocker is arranged to pivot relative a rocker pivot axis, said rocker pivot axis being perpendicular to the central axis of said lever arm. 
     
     
       3. Joystick according to  claim 1 , wherein said control ring is provided with a spare, such that the control ring from a starting position of the control ring can be turned a maximum predetermined angle in each direction around an axis parallel with a central axis of the lever arm. 
     
     
       4. Joystick according to  claim 1 , wherein said control ring is provided with a resilient member, which is acting upon said control ring, such that it automatically returns to its starting position. 
     
     
       5. Joystick according to  claim 1 , wherein said base part is provided with guides guiding the pivoting movement of said control ring. 
     
     
       6. Joystick according to  claim 5 , wherein a protrusion upon said base part acts as a pivot point for said control ring, said protrusion being aligned with the central axis of said lever arm. 
     
     
       7. Joystick according to  claim 1 , where said holder is arranged offset from the central axis of said lever arm, and in between said central axis and the outer periphery of said base part. 
     
     
       8. Joystick according to  claim 1 , wherein said sensing means comprise a first and second sensor, such that the first sensor senses movement of said control rocker and said second sensor senses movement of said control ring. 
     
     
       9. Joystick according to  claim 8 , wherein said first and second sensors are arranged on a common circuit board, and wherein said first and second sensors are spaced apart such that said first sensor is adjacent to said control rocker and said second sensor is adjacent to said control ring. 
     
     
       10. Joystick according to  claim 9 , where said first and second sensors are arranged at a side of the circuit board facing the central axis of said lever arm. 
     
     
       11. Joystick according to  claim 9 , where said circuit board is equipped with magnetic shields arranged at a side of the circuit board facing away from the central axis of said lever arm. 
     
     
       12. Joystick according to  claim 9 , where a cavity of said holder is dimensioned such that the cavity encloses said circuit board, and such that the circuit board is guided into the cavity upon insertion of said circuit board into said holder. 
     
     
       13. Joystick according to  claim 9 , where said circuit board is potted inside the holder. 
     
     
       14. Joystick according to  claim 9 , where the thickness of the wall of the holder directed towards the central axis is sufficiently thin to allow the first and second sensor to sense movements of the control ring and the rocker respectively.